Improv team conjures quick quips in BSC

This was the second time the improv group has come out for a night of comedy at CPP.

The two-hour event was held Friday night in the BSC.

Many students enjoyed coming out to the event, such as Jaclyn Briggs, a third-year accounting student.

“I like [these events] because they are fun and they’re free,” said Briggs. “I expect [the show] to be really funny and interactive.”

For some students, this was the first program they had ever attended

Kimberly Rodriguez, a first-year biotechnology student, had never seen an improv night before this.

“I actually really like [Improv Night],” said Rodriquez. “This is the first event I came out for and so far I love it; it’s funny.”

Rodriquez also enjoyed watching the Upright Citizens Brigade for the first time.

“They [the Upright Citizens Brigade] are really funny,” said Rodriguez. “I like how they can just think on the spot quickly.”

The Upright Citizens Brigade was composed of four members. They used inspiration from anything anyone told them.

The first part of the program was based completely on the story of one student. The group was able to capture everything the student said and applied it to several skits done in the span of an hour.

There was a break in the show, but when the group returned, the second half of the show was based on the humorous text messages of many members of the audience.

According to the host of Improv Night, Russell Apolonio, a fourth-year electrical engineering student, the group is a favorite of BEAT’s and they are great to work with.

For Apolonio, the night was a success.

“Even if there [were] five people here, it’s the fact we’re putting on something for the students,” said Apolonio. “We just want students to come out to our events, we want [students] to find the fun in campus life.”

BEAT enjoys bringing these acts out for student enjoyment, and when there is a great student reaction, they are happy to bring acts out again, like they did with the Upright Citizens Brigade.

“If the students are interested in something, we want to hear about it,” said Apolonio. “We definitely take feedback of students; it’s very important to [BEAT] because we program in the students’ interest.”

Just as any other show, Improv Night had a lot of work put into it and Apolonio had a lot of the responsibility placed on his shoulders.

“I actually planned all of this,” said Apolonio. “There is a lot of paperwork behind the scenes, but it’s really awesome when you actually get to see everyone having a good time.”

This event, however, was not strictly business for Apolonio; he found personal enjoyment in working on this show.

“I chose this event because a high number of students wanted comedians,” said Apolonio. “I thought it would be fun to bring the improv group back because they are funny and it’s a different type of comedy.”

This event happens only once in the academic year and Apolonio encourages people to attend the event and any of BEAT’s other events as well.

“When [students] pay their tuition, there is an ASI student fee,” says Apolonio. “[That fee] helps pay for the BSC and all the services provided there. Part of that fund goes to programming, so the reason we don’t charge for our events is because [students] are, in fact, already paying for them.”

The event also provided free Subway sandwiches for those who attended.

A photo booth was provided outside the room for students to capture their enjoyment after the show.